Wide Receivers

1. Michael Crabtree (6’3, 214), Texas TechHighlight Videos:coming soon!Strengths: Good size, long arms, big/soft hands, production, open field vision, good after the catch, willing blocker, superb body control, uses size well, excellent leaper, catches with his hands, great balance while running routes, good strength, always goes after the ballWeaknesses: System, inexperience, still learning the receiver position, not a deep threat, doesnt have great speed, needs to improve beating press coverage, focus on easy catchesOverview I don’t care that Crabtree, the Biletnikoff winner, is in the Texas Tech system, he is a truly special talent. Michael was a high school quarterback and took a developmental redshirt, so he is still learning the position, but that didn’t stop him from making an immediate impact in the college game. He has all the tools you need to be a star on Sunday’s. His ability to use his size to create separation and position will allow him to be a great possession receiver in the NFL. His ability after the catch will allow him to be a playmaker as well. He may not be a burner, but he will be able to produce, and produce well. If Crabtree finds himself next to a receiver like Steve Smith or Lee Evans, he will be a top level player.

2. Kenny Britt, Rutgers

3. Jeremy Maclin (6’1, 200), MissouriHighlight Videos:coming soon!Strengths: Deep threat, excellent speed, productive, return specialist, great acceleration, extremely elusiveWeaknesses: Very thin, catches with body, needs to move more north and south, can’t break tacklesOverview First I feel the need to say that Maclin is a very underrated route runner. Just because his offense calls for more bubble screens and quick passes, people assume he isn’t capable of running good routes. The truth is Jeremy Maclin is a good route runner and he will be able to get separation from almost any defensive back at the next level. Of course he still needs to work on his routes, just not as much as people are led to believe. Maclin is going to be a great difference maker at the next level. He will be able to bring the return ability of Devin Hester, the quickness and deep threat of a Steve Smith, the open field elusivenss of Reggie Bush, and the breakaway speed of Chris Johnson. Maclin has it all. Whoever grabs this guy is getting a flat out playmaker, and he may turn out to be one of the explosive guys in the NFL immediately. He could burst onto the scene like DeSean Jackson, but he is better at every aspect of the game.

7. Percy Harvin (5’11, 195), FloridaHighlight Videos:coming soon!Strengths: Incredible athleticism, elite agility, balance, and elusivenss, excellent YAC ability, deep threat, great speed, soft hands, great open field vision, can make anyone miss and stops on a dimeWeaknesses: Size, thing build, needs experience, needs to improve route runningOverview Percy Harvin is a special talent that someone will gamble on. He doesn’t have the size you’d want in a receiver, but he has all the other physical tools. Harvin needs to learn to run crisper routes and he needs to bulk up a bit before he will excel at the next level. Harvin could also make the move to running back where he may be a little more dynamic. He also brings the return ability which allows him to bring even more value to a roster. Regardless of the situation, Harvin is a playmaker, and he will find a place in this league.

8. Darius Heyward-Bey (6’3, 206), MarylandHighlight Videos:coming soon!Strengths: Great acceleration, good height, great speed, can catch over the shoulder, threat after the catch, potential as a kick returnerWeaknesses: Inconsistency, needs to get more physical, horrible blocker, catches with his body in traffic, can use improvement in route runningOverview Darrius Heyward-Bey has the potential to shoot up draft boards. His speed is top notch and I believe he is every bit as fast as Maclin and Harvin. Darrius is very raw, he is a deep threat and catches a lot of screens, but that has been about the only place he has been effective in his career. He needs to improve his route running and catch with his hands more, instead of allowing the ball to hit him in the body. When Heyward-Bey lights up the combine and toches the 40, you may be hearing his name earlier then expected come next April.